Reinforced shoes



July 4, 1961 A. L. BLACK 2,990,628

REINFORCED SHOES Filed Aug. 5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 4, 1961 Filed Aug. 3, 1956 FIG. 5

A. L. BLACK REINFORCED SHOES FIG.6.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7

INVENTOR. A. L. BLACK y 1961 A. L. BLACK 2,990,628

REINFORCED SHOES Filed Aug. 3, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. A. L. BLAC K i hp Patented July 4, 1961 2,990,628 REINFORCED SHOES A. L. Black, Montgomery, Ala., assignor to Frank J. Perrotta, Utica, NY. Filed Aug. 3, 1956, Ser. Nb. 602,053 4 Claims. (Cl. 36 -585) This invention relates to reinforced shoes and more particularly to a reinforced halter strap shoe and insert or brace therefor. This invention is a continuation-in-part of my pending application of Serial No. 497,849 filed March 30, 1955, since abandoned.

In the past many conventional shoes have utilized metal reinforcing members to strengthen the vamp portions of shoes, the purpose essentially being to provide longer wearing and more durable shoes. To this end, substantial sections of the shoe have been reinforced with metal sheets, resulting in many instances, in a most uncomfortable shoe which irritates the foot of the wearer.

Recent trends in womens shoes have been to eliminate much of the material of the shoe which encloses the heel or rear portion of the foot, the heel being held in place by what is known in the trade as a halter strap. When first purchased, the halter strap shoe usually fits snugly around the heel, however, after the shoe has been broken in the halter strap tends to sag and the foot tends to move both laterally and longitudinally within the shoe as the wearer walks. The lateral movement of the foot is generally confined to a pivoting of the heel about the ball of the foot which contributes materially to the breakdown of rigidity of the body portion of the halter strap.

On the other hand, longitudinal movement of the foot downwardly, toward the toe of the shoe each time the wearers weight is placed on the foot, tends to provide a gap between the strap portion of the halter strap and the heel of the foot, which gap may tend to permit the strap portion of the halter strap to sag or the heel to slide out of the shoe.

Many prior art devices have been utilized in an attempt to retain the halter strap in its proper position encompassing the heel of the foot. In some instances, the strap portion of the halter strap has been provided with an elastic portion which shortens the effective length of the strap each time the foot moves toward the toe of the shoe. Other devices have included a resilient or sponge rubber pad in the strap portion of the halter strap which expands and contracts with each step.

Briefly, to eliminate the above described disadvantages of the halter strap shoe, I have provided resilient elements braces or inserts between the body portions of the halter straps and their respective linings. These resilient elements are anchored with the halter strap and lining to the inner sole of the shoe and extend to approximately the mid-portion of the halter strap. The resilient elements, themselves, are so shaped that they cause the lower portion of the halter strap to snugly encompass the lower portion of the heel of the wearer. Thus when the individual walks, the foot spreads outwardly, acting against the curved portion of the resilient elements, to thereby move the upper ends of the resilient elements outwardly and pull the loop or tongue portion of the halter strap inwardly against the back of the foot.

In other embodiments of any invention disclosed herein, I have shown how but one of my resilient members may be used to reduce the effective length of the halter strap.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a halter strap shoe which will snugly retain the heel of a person in its proper position Within the shoe.

Another object of my invention is to provide a halter strap shoe wherein the effective length of the halter strap is reduced each time the Weight of the wearer of the shoe is placed on the shoe.

Another object of my invention is to provide an article of manufacture which includes an element to be inserted in a conventional halter strap shoe to reinforce that halter strap and provide means for reducing the effective length of the halter strap each time the wearer places her weight on the shoe.

Another object of my invention is to provide a halter strap shoe which is inexpensive to manufacture and durable in structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide an article of manufacture which reinforces a halter strap shoe which article is inexpensive to manufacture and install in a conventional halter strap shoe.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional sling or halter strap ladies shoe having its strap equipped with a spring brace embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the invention applied to a sling strap slightly differing from that disclosed in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another type of sling strap shoe and illustrating spring brace stiffeners applied to the strap portions thereof,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the manner in which the spring brace is secured to the shoe outsole,

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of an insert constructed in accordance with my invention, said insert being adapted to be installed in a conventional halter strap shoe,

FIG. 6 is an edge view of the insert blank,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 5, said insert being bent in the shape in which it is normally applied in a halter strap shoe,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a halter strap shoe showing the insert of FIG. 5 installed in the conventional halter strap shoe,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a halter strap shoe constructed in accordance with my invention, the insert being indicated by broken lines therein,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a halter strap shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention, the insert being indicated by broken lines therein, and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a halter strap shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention, the insert being indicated by broken lines therein.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing, the halter strap is made in sections as indicated at 5 and 6, remote from and independent of the upper, section 5 extending from one side of the shoe at the heel portion and to within a short distance from the sole at the opposite side thereof and having openings 7 near its free end to receive the tongue of a buckle member 8 secured to the shorter opposite section 6 rising from the sole also at the heel portion thereof. All of these halter straps are provided with liners represented at 9, and interposed between the strap and its liner is a spring steel brace or plastic bracing member 10 corresponding substantially to the shape of the halter strap with which it is associated, being slightly narrower in order that it may be inserted between the strap and its liner 9. As shown by dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, the brace terminates a substantial distance inwardly from the free end of the strap with which it is associated in order that the buckling or fastening effect may be carried out. In FIG. 1, the shorter strap section 6 is similarly provided with a spring steel or plastic brace also indicated at 10. One end of each of these brace members is provided with an integral right angularly and inwardly disposed flange 11 provided with openings for the reception of fastener members, such as nails or tacks, or staples 12, to be driven into the sole 13 of the shoe between the upper surface thereof and the inner sole lining 14. The arrangement is such that the brace member is wholly enclosed and out of view, while at the same time is capable of performing its spring bracing functions.

FIG. 2 of the drawing shows a slightly modified form of the invention, wherein the halter strap is divided intermediate its ends, each of the sections of the halter strap being provided with the spring or plastic steel bracer members 10 as indicated.

FIG. 3 of the invention shows a further modification of the halter strap. In this instance, the halter strap is formed of a single piece secured at its ends to the shoe inner sole. In this instance, the reenforcing spring steel member 10 is in a continuous piece extending from one side of the shoe upwardly and over to the opposite side being rigidly secured at its ends by means of the retaining members 12 passing through the inturned flanges 11 as shown.

Referring now in detail to the embodiments chosen for purpose of illustration in other figures of the drawings, numeral 10 in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 denotes generally the outer sole of the halter strap shoe. This sole 10' is provided with the usual heel 11 and inner sole 12'. Over inner sole 12 is the liner 13', all of the above being arranged in conventional manner.

In FIG. 9 it will be seen that the ball portion of the sole 10 is provided with a vamp 14, the edges of which are secured in the customary way between sole 10' and inner sole 12'. Spaced from vamp 14 is the halter strap which includes a pair of strap members 15 and 16. These strap members 15 and 16 are complementary and are respectively anchored to top of inner sole 12 at a position intermediate to the shank and heel portions of the shoe so that they protrude outwardly then upwardly and rearwardly from the shoe. Of course in some instances the strap members 15 and 16 are secured to the bottom of inner sole 12' between inner sole 12' and sole 10. It is apparent, however, that in either event my invention as described hereinafter is applicable.

The upper end of strap member 15 is provided with an integrally connected tongue or strap 17 which eX- tends generally rearwardly around the heel of a person to terminate in cooperative engagement with a buckle 18, buckle 18 being mounted to the upper end of strap member 16.

As is usual in shoes of this type, strap members 15 and 16 are respectively provided with strap liners 19 and 20 which are secured thereto by thread stitching 21 along the outer edges of the vontiguous strap member and liner.

Up to this point, I have described generally a conventional halter strap shoe, sometimes called a sling back shoe, which, with normal wear, will permit appreciable pivoting or lateral movement of the heel of the wearer. Further, the tongue or strap 17 of this conventional halter strap shoe will normally tend to drop downwardly after the shoe is broken in.

According to my invention, inserts or braces denoted generally by numeral 22, are provided between strap member 15 and liner 19 and also between strap member 16 and liner 20. This insert 22 is stamped from a piece of spring sheet material such as spring steel, brass, aluminum, plastic or the like and is provided, as best seen in FIG. 5, with an arcuate leading edge 23 and an arcuate trailing edge 24. The sheet material selected should be resilient and have a thickness of fi om about .006 inch to about .025 inch. Both leading edge 23 and trailing edge 24 have substantially the same radius, however, they do not have the same center and thus taper toward each other from a straight base edge 25 to a rounded tip 27. Base edge 25, in addition to being straight, extends generally radially between leading edge 23 and trailing edge 24.

If desired, a pair of apertures 26 may be provided in insert 22 at a position adjacent base edge 25. These apertures 26 are of such size as to receive tacks, rivets, staples or the like, such as tack 37 when the shoe is assembled as apertures 26 may be punched by the tacks, rivets, staples or the like during the assembly of the shoe.

In assembly or repair of the shoe of FIG. 9, one insert 22 is slid between strap member 15 and strap liner 19, before the halter strap is aflixed or reaffixed to the shoe. A second insert 22 is also slid between strap member 16 and liner 20 and then the halter strap is affixed to the shoe by passing tacks, rivets, staples or the like, such as tack 37, through the lower edges of liners 19 and 20, through apertures 26, through the lower edges of strap members 15 and 16 and into the upper surface of inner sole 12' as shown in FIG. 8. The assembly of this portion of the shoe is completed by gluing or otherwise afiixing liner 13' over inner sole 12'.

From FIG. 9 is will be seen that the opposed inserts 22 have their base edges, such as base edge 25, spaced from each other so that one base edge 25 of one insert is on one side of a transverse center line of the shoe and the other base edge 25 of the other insert 22 is on the other side of the transverse center line or axis.

Each insert 22 in the shoe shown in FIG. 9 after assembly of the shoe is bent upwardly so that strap members 15 and 16 assume their normal position. Thus, the inner insert of the shoe shown in FIG. 9 would be curved as shown in FIG. 7 and the other insert 22 would be curved as a reverse of the insert shown in FIG. 7. The main bending or curvature of insert 22 would therefore occur adjacent base edge 25, to thereby leave a small flat flange 28 and provide a curved intermediate portion 29 and an upstanding upper portion 30.

It is important, according to my invention, to bend insert 22 of the shoe shown in FIG. 9 to such an extent and sufficiently sharply that the distance between the upstanding portion of liners 19 and 20 is normally less than the expanded or weight-on width of the wearers foot at that point. It is also important that the curved intermediate portion of inserts 22, such as portion 29, are of such curvatures that the foot of the wearer impinges on liner 19 or 20 at the point of curvature as the wearer walks. Therefore, with each step, the impinging portion of the wearers foot will push downwardly against these curved portions, such as portion 29 causing pivoting outwardly of the upright portion 30 of the inserts 22.

It is now seen that each time the wearer steps down on the shoe, the weight of the wearer causes the upstanding upper portion 30 of each insert 22 to move outwardly to tend to increase the distance T and then, when the weight of the wearer is removed, these upright portions, such as portion 29, will spring back to their original shape to snugly hold the foot. This moving outwardly of the upstanding upper portions, such as portion 29, tends to pull the ends of tongue 17 outwardly at positions adjacent tips 27 of inserts 22, whereby the loop of tongue 17 is urged against the foot of the wearer, even though the foot tends to slide into the vamp 14.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are modifications of the shoe shown in FIG. 5. In each of these embodiments, the shoe includes the same sole 10, heel 11', and inner sole 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the vamp 14 is connected between sole 10' and inner sole 12' and tongue 17' extends from one edge of vamp 14 rearwardly to follow the general shape of the shank and heel portion of sole and terminate in engagement with buckle 18.

A strap member 16 which is identical to strap member 16 projects up from between the sole 10' and inner sole 12' to terminate at buckle l8. This strap member 16' has provided therein the insert 22 in a manner identical to the insertion of insert 22 into strap member 16.

It is to be noted that the shoe embodied in FIG. 10 operates in much the same Way that the shoe of FIG. 9 operates. When the wearer steps down, placing weight on the shoe, the curved portion of the heel of the wearers foot causes strap member 16' to move outwardly against tension of insert 22 and take up the elfective length of tongue 17'. Of course, when the weight is removed from the wearers foot, insert 22 urges strap member 16' to its original position.

In FIG. 11, vamp 14-" is extended rearwardly to include insert 22. Tongue 17 extends from vamp 14" in the manner described for tongue 17' and terminates in engagement with buckle 18. Buckle 18' is supported by the extension of vamp 14". In this embodiment the insert 22 operates in the manner of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

Thus it is seen that either one or two inserts 22 may be used, depending on the design of the shoe. In any case, the same action of taking up the effective length of the tongue takes place. Because insert 22 projects generally upwardly and rearwardly, there are generally no edges to dig into the flesh of the wearer since the foot moves generally longitudinally with respect to insert 22.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment disclosed herein and full use of equivalents may be resorted to without departing from the scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ladies open heel shoe having an upper and a supported and stifiened heel strap of halter sling type, said strap being separate from the upper and having its ends secured to the sides of the shoe at positions spaced rearwardly and remote from the rearward engagement of the upper with the shoe sole, said strap extending upwardly, rearwardly and above the ball of the heel of the wearer, said strap tapering from the junction of its ends with the shoe towards its midportion, a stiifener consisting of an elongated relatively narrow strip of a flexible and self-supporting material of less width and of a similar contour to a forward portion of said heel strap, said strip having at one end thereof means for receiving the securing means that fastens the strap to the shoe, said strip being embedded in a forward portion of said strap with the edges of the strip lying entirely within the edges of the forward portion of the strap whereby to impart rigidity and support to the heel strap and prevent the midportion of the latter from dropping.

2. A ladies open heel shoe having an upper and a supported and stiffened heel strap of halter sling type, said strap being separate from the upper and having its ends secured to the sidm of the shoe at positions spaced rearwardly and remote from the rearward engagement of the upper with the shoe sole, said strap extending upwardly, rearwardly and above the ball of the heel of the wearer, said strap tapering from the junction of its ends with the shoe towards its midportion, a pair of stitfeners each of which consists of an elongated relatively narrow strip of a flexible and a self-supporting material of less width 6 and of a similar contour to a forward portion of said heel strap, said strip having at one end thereof means for receiving the securing means that fastens the strap to the shoe, each strip being embedded in a forward portion of said strap with the edges of each strip lying entirely within the edges of its forward portion of the strap whereby to impart rigidity and support to the heel strap and prevent the midportion of the latter from dropping.

3. A ladies open heel shoe having an upper and a supported and stiffened heel strap of halter sling type, said strap being separate from the upper and having its ends secured to the sides of the shoe at positions spaced rearwardly and remote from the rearward engagement of the upper with the shoe sole, said strap extending upwardly, rearwardly and above the ball of the heel of the wearer, said strap tapering from the junction of its ends with the shoe towards its midportion, a stiffener consisting of an elongated relatively narrow strip of a flexible and self-supporting material of less width and of a similar contour to a forward portion of said heel strap, said strip having at one end thereof means for receiving the securing means that fastens the strap to the shoe, said strip being embedded in a forward portion of said strap with the edges of the strip lying entirely within the edges of the forward portion of the strap whereby to impart rigidity and support to the heel strap and prevent the midportion of the latter from dropping, said strip having its other end thereof terminating in said strap in a side portion of said strap forwardly of that portion of the strap which is disposed behind the heel of the wearer, whereby to confine said strip solely to an end portion of said strap.

4. A ladies open heel shoe having an upper and a supported and stiffened heel strap of halter sling type, said strap being separate from the upper and having its ends secured to the sides of the shoe at positions spaced rearwardly and remote from the rearward engagement of the upper with the shoe sole, said strap extending upwardly, rearwardly and above the ball of the heel of the wearer, said strap tapering from the junction of its ends with the shoe towards its midportion, a pair of stifieners each of which consists of an elongated relatively narrow strip of a flexible and a self-supporting material of less width and of a similar contour to a forward portion of said heel strap, said strip having at one end thereof means for receiving the securing means that fastens the strap to the shoe, each strip being embedded in a forward portion of said strap with the edges of each strip lying entirely within the edges of its forward portion of the strap whereby to impart rigidity and support to the heel strap and prevent the midportion of the latter from dropping, said strips each having their other ends terminating in the side portions of said strap forwardly of that portion of the strap which is disposed behind the heel of the wearer, whereby to confine said strips solely to the end portions of said strap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,089,505 Rivkin Aug. 10, 1937 2,522,681 Leonard Sept. 19, 1950 2,755,568 Menge July 24, 1956 2,842,769 Barnes July 15, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 685,711 Germany Dec. 22, 1939 701,936 Great Britain Jan. 6, 1954 

